Seniors Receive National Recognition for Photography, Jazz Piano

It’s a common occurrence at Masters to see Vincent Alban ’19 behind a camera and Vittorio Stropoli ’19 at a piano.

Since joining the Masters community after attending the same school in Orange County, New York, these two seniors have become well-known for their respective talents. Now, they have another shared attribute: both recently received honorable mentions for their work from the National YoungArts Foundation: Alban for photography and Stropoli for jazz piano.

“I’ve pretty much always had a camera,” says Alban, who regularly puts his skills to use as the photos and illustrations editor for Tower, the student-run newspaper. “It just came naturally.” Alban most enjoys photographing people “in their natural state,” and has had the opportunity to do so in countries around the world, from Senegal to China. His submission to the National YoungArts Foundation included a set of photos that displayed technique, and a set of photos taken from his college portfolio that focus on the theme of skin and textures, a concept he continues to explore.

Stropoli, too, has spent years honing his craft. He began playing piano in a classical music program at the age of 3, and he now draws inspiration from classical, jazz, R&B and hip hop — “in that order,” he notes. “Classical is essential because it is the foundation. But I also love jazz and how it has developed into new genres such as neo-soul.” Stropoli submitted three pieces to the National YoungArts Foundation: “Billie’s Bounce” by Charlie Parker, “It Could Happen to You” by Jimmy Van Heusen and “My Ideal” by Richard A. Whiting. Beyond his honorable mention, Stropoli has something else to celebrate: with the college application process behind him, he can dedicate more time to creating music videos that will accompany his songs.

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The mission of the National YoungArts Foundation is to identify and nurture the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts, and assist them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development. Through a wide range of annual programs, performances, and partnerships with some of the nation’s leading cultural institutions, YoungArts aspires to create a strong community of alumni and a platform for a lifetime of encouragement, opportunity and support.

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